Sai Kishore enjoys dream English County debut with Surrey
CHENNAI: R Sai Kishore had a short and sweet stint representing Surrey in English County Championship Division I. Despite having little time to bed in, the
Tamil Nadu
left-arm spinner gave a good account of himself in the two matches that he featured in.
The 28-year-old Sai Kishore began his debut County campaign with a four-wicket match haul in the draw against Yorkshire in Scarborough. The slow bowler then produced a match-influencing show of seven scalps, including a five-wicket burst in the second innings, to propel Surrey to a five-wicket victory over Durham in Chester-le-Street.
Brimming with optimism after a productive spell away from home, Sai Kishore believes that he has it in him to deliver on all kinds of surfaces.
'I have a lot of belief in my red-ball game. Winning a match in foreign conditions and doing it with a team which I was not familiar with, gives me a lot of confidence,' Sai Kishore, who has represented India only in T20Is (three matches), told TOI from England on Friday.
You Can Also Check:
Chennai AQI
|
Weather in Chennai
|
Bank Holidays in Chennai
|
Public Holidays in Chennai
'The belief that I can take wickets in all conditions is only growing. I had the belief that I could do it; the performances in England have given me the assurance that I can.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Best SIP Plans for NRIs in Italy – Get ₹2L Monthly Pension | Invest ₹18K
PB
Learn More
Undo
Only when you tour do you get to know how good you are in foreign conditions. I now feel that I had not deceived myself,' added Sai Kishore, the Tamil Nadu red-ball captain.
His leadership quality and extensive preparation with coach R Ramkumar in Chennai allowed Sai Kishore to swiftly adapt to English County. 'I see myself as a leader wherever I go. Whenever I had interactions with the coach (Gareth Batty) and captain (Rory Burns), I discussed how we could take the game forward.
It was not just about me picking wickets. The captain and coach handled me well; they used me well, that is why I was able to deliver my best.
Overall, I am very happy,' said Sai Kishore.
'Before going to England, I worked with Ramkumar anna and refined my action. After playing a lot of T20 cricket in the last few months, my action was spoilt a bit, so I had to tweak it. Besides that, Batty's (a former spinner) inputs came in handy.'
Captain all praise for spinner
Surrey skipper Burns was effusive in his praise of Sai Kishore, saying that the left-arm spinner was an invaluable addition to the squad. 'When you have someone with that quality who can do what he is asked to any time, it is pretty impressive. The ability Sai has, to control one end on a surface like that, is outstanding. He is a fantastic bloke around the group; he has great energy,' Burns said after Surrey comprehensively defeated Durham.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Why does Mohammed Siraj celebrate like Cristiano Ronaldo? His Gujarat Titans teammate explains
London: India's Mohammed Siraj celebrates after taking the wicket of England's Gus Atkinson during the fifth day of the fifth Test match between India and England, at The Oval cricket ground, in London, England. (PTI Photo/R Senthilkumar)(PTI08_04_2025_000434A) Mohammed Siraj 's Gujarat Titans teammate Jos Buttler revealed the reason behind his Cristiano Ronaldo-style Siuuu celebration. "He's putting in a Herculean effort," Buttler told Stuart Broad on their podcast For the Love Of Cricket. 04:30 Bowled Over by Miya Magic: Mohammed Siraj shines brightest | IND vs ENG 5th Test Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "I actually played with him at Gujarat, and I think one of the first wickets he got was caught somewhere. I was waiting for the Cristiano celebration. He said, 'Oh no, no, I only do it when I bowl someone out.' "So that was the perfect finish for him—to hit the stumps and be able to unfurl his celebration," Buttler added. Siraj had previously revealed the inspiration behind the celebration. 'I only do the Cristiano Ronaldo celebration when I clean bowl someone—not for a catch or LBW. I do it because I like and admire him for his work ethic, the routine he follows, and the way he performs consistently. He always has a never-give-up attitude. Obviously, Ronaldo is the best—GOAT of all time," Siraj had said earlier. Ben Stokes press conference: On Mohammed Siraj, Chris Woakes batting with injury, 2-2 result England, set 374 to win, lost a nail-biting encounter by just six runs, with Siraj returning innings figures of 5/104 as India ended a rollercoaster campaign level at 2-2. The hosts resumed on Monday's final day at 339/6, needing just 35 more runs for a win that would have secured a 3-1 series victory. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pierce Brosnan's Wife Lost 120 Pounds - This Is Her Now Undo But they had no answer to the enduring skill of fast bowler Siraj, who featured in all five games. He undid England on Monday with a brilliant burst of 3 for 9 in 25 balls, sealing the win by knocking over Gus Atkinson's off-stump. "From the first day until the fifth Test, fifth day, we fought an unbelievable fight," said Siraj, who bowled a marathon 185.3 overs during the series. "God must have written something good for me, that's why I won this match and took the last wicket. "When I woke up today, I thought I could do it. I downloaded a picture from Google that said 'believe'." The 31-year-old was named Player of the Match after an overall return of 9 for 190. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Bronny James raises eyebrows with comment on GF Parker Whitefield's vacation pictures as he skips Luka Doncic event
Bronny James raises eyebrows with comment on GF Parker Whitefield's vacation pictures as he skips Luka Doncic event (Image Credit:) On Saturday, the Los Angeles Lakers confirmed $165 million, 3-year contract with Luka Doncic. Top executives like GM Rob Pelinka, coach JJ Reddick, and a few Lakers players were at the press conference Luka attended after the confirmation. But Bronny James and his father, LeBron James, were conspicuously absent from the event, giving way to another round of speculations around their position in the team. On the personal front, Bronny showered love on her girlfriend Parker Whitefield's vacation pictures. He posted a two-word comment on her latest pictures after calling her 'my girlfriend' previously. Though spotted rarely with Parker, Bronny's engagement with his girlfriend's Instagram posts has deepened for quite some time, fueling rumors around their relationship. Bronny James draws criticism for giving Luka Doncic signing announcement event a miss Both James duo members, LeBron James and Bronny James, conspicuously missed Luka Doncic's press conference, which was to follow the Los Angeles Lakers' announcement of his three-year contract extension worth $165 million. NBA veteran Dan Patrick, on his talk show, called out Bronny for missing the event. He said: 'The one person who I thought should have been there was his son. Bronny James, if he wants to stay longer after LeBron leaves, that's your teammate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kate Middleton's Daring Outfit Took Prince William's Breath Away Crowdy Fan Undo Bronny James should have been there. You're the last guy on the roster. You should be there.' Dan Patrick's comments were mentioned by NBA Central's tweet. The tweet read: 'Dan Patrick criticizes Bronny James for not attending Luka Dončić's press conference "Bronny James should've been there. You're the last guy on the roster, you should be there."' As per his opinion, Bronny requires more attendance at the team's events like these, should he want to learn more about the NBA environment firsthand. If he plans to stay with the Lakers for long, such events should be taken seriously by newcomers to the NBA, Patrick thought. Since the reports about the possible trades of LeBron James and Bronny James are swirling over time, the absence of the James duo ignites a fresh spark of speculation around their status on the team. Meanwhile, Bronny showed his loyalty on another unexpected platform, and it had something to do with his private life. Bronny James comments on his girlfriend Parker Whitefield's vacation pictures Though Bronny James could not make it to Luka Doncic's event, he managed to drop a loving comment on his girlfriend Parker Whitefield's vacation pictures. Bronny commented, 'Muy Bonita' on the latest phot dump of Parker. Parker gave a glimpse into her vacation time she is enjoying at a scenic location. It drew endearing comments from her supporters and friends, with Bronny James taking the lead. His comment showed that the Los Angeles Lakers rising star is taking a deep interest in his girlfriend's whereabouts. Though they are not spotted together offline often, Bronny is seen actively engaging with his girlfriend's Instagram updates in recent times. Previously, he sort of confirmed his relationship status by writing, 'My girlfriend', on Parker's pictures. Why Bronny James and LeBron James gave a miss to Luka Doncic's event and where Bronny's relationship with Parker Whitefield heads in the coming times are the two important questions looming over every James' duo loyal fans. Only official statements from the two can clear the air on these matters. Also Read: NBA Legend LeBron James shares a heartfelt moment with his son Bronny James during their off-season Golf trip Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Stuart Broad reveals Mohammed Siraj's hilarious nickname among England cricketers
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 03: India bowler Mohammed Siraj smiles during day four of the Fifth Test Match between England and India at The Kia Oval on August 03, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by) Former England pacer Stuart Broad has showered praise on Mohammed Siraj , who finished as the leading wicket-taker in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Siraj ended the series with 22 wickets, including a Player of the Match performance at The Oval in the fifth Test, which India won by six runs. "Couldn't be more impressed with him," Broad told Jos Buttler on their podcast For the Love Of Cricket. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "If I'm honest, I think you have to be careful with cricketers like Mohammed Siraj, where all you talk about is heart, fire, spirit, and drive. He's incredibly skilful. You watch him set up batters — he tries a couple of away swingers, not necessarily looking to get them out. Then he bowls the wobble seam that comes back in to bring the stumps into play. Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj press conference: India stars answer all questions "He's got brilliant players out throughout the series — Root, Pope, Stokes (a first-ball duck at Edgbaston). One of his greatest strengths is the amount of effort he puts in and how he always turns up. He grabs the ball, wants to be in the action — a bit of a showman," Broad added. Broad also revealed the nickname England cricketers have given Siraj. "I was on the pitch on Day 2, when Ben Duckett was just going through his batting drills and Siraj was doing a few mental bowling routines. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo Duckett said, 'Morning, Mr Angry. How are you doing, Mr Angry?' — smiling. "And Siraj had a big smile on his face. So the England players were calling him 'Mr Angry' because he's just so in the battle the whole time. "But don't mistake his passion and heart for a lack of ability, because he sets up batters beautifully. He bowls a length that nips back, brings the stumps into play, and you can't get forward to it. I thought he took the final wicket — Gus Atkinson — with a brilliant off-stump yorker." Broad also expressed relief that Siraj wouldn't be remembered for a dropped catch earlier in the Test. "I was really worried that he would remember this Test match for that dropped catch because he deserved so much more in this series. "He was the leading wicket-taker, played all five Tests in a series that was brutal for bowlers. He had a mishap — he was actually off the field for about five overs, changing his shirt, refreshing himself — and then came back on. "Harry Brook top-edged it straight to him at fine leg. He just didn't quite know where he was, didn't have his bearings, and caught it while strolling the rope. The guy in the blue shirt behind him went berserk. Poll Which quality of Mohammed Siraj stands out the most to you? Skill and technique Passion and drive Consistency Showmanship "I didn't want that to be his last memory of this Test series. But he came in the next morning, swung it around, bowled beautifully once again, and fittingly took the last wicket to draw the series for India. He really, really deserved it." Broad also touched on Siraj's now-viral celebration and motivation. "The atmosphere was brilliant. He did a Cristiano Ronaldo-style celebration. He has Ronaldo as his mobile wallpaper with the word 'Believe'. "That's his motivation — what drives him forward. I'm thrilled that he was able to do what he did, because he deserves it. And you know what? He deserves to fly to a beach, slip on some flip-flops, grab a pina colada, and lie there for a few weeks." Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
